The Living Creative Word
By L. D. SANTEE
Its Precepts and Prophecies Stand the Test—It Will Triumph Gloriously
"SO shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isa. 55: 11. All human words, whether of power or of affection, are bounded within brief periods. The mandate of one in authority may cause his subjects to tremble, but soon he is hushed in death. The words of father and mother charm their children for a short time; but soon those children are scattered, and the words of the parents are only treasured in memory. But the word our text speaks of is that of Jehovah. Since the morning stars sang together, it has rolled down through all the ages, expressing infinite wisdom, almighty power, and eternal love for His works and creatures. It has enthroned kings, and hurled rulers from their seats of power. The earth and all its elements exist and continue solely at the behest of God's word. It is the word of infinite wisdom, distinguishing between truth and error, offering light for darkness, peace for war, and life for death. It contains a sweet promise for the "pure in heart," and for all the loyal of our race, offering them through Christ, joy that has no sorrow, and life that has no end. The Bible is a transcript of the divine mind, the voice of God. It is the grand prophetic announcement of earth's future history. Among the beautiful trees and flowers of Eden, the word of God warned against disobedience. Down through the dark and tragic scenes of the antediluvian age, it communed with the faithful, and laid upon Noah the responsibility of warning the world. THE WORD THAT MOVED WITH POWER
Philosophy scoffed, and science ignored it; but when the windows of heaven were opened, and the ark rode upon a shoreless ocean, then was demonstrated the fact that "Thy word is truth." The word promised Israel that the bands of their servitude should be broken, and that the Almighty, with a "high hand and an outstretched arm," should lead them to "a land flowing with milk and honey," the ancient home of their fathers. After the Passover, the object-lesson teaching Christ, then came the foretold emancipation. According to appointment, the cloud appeared and moved, the tribes marched, the sea retired, and the song of victory sounded on the farther shore; all showing, as the text reads, that "it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." This word, coming from heaven, sounded upon the listening ears of the holy prophets. It came to Daniel through the agency of an angel, and his inspired pen told us of earth's four universal monarchies. Beyond that, he opens to our vision a redeemed earth, where, "under the whole heavens," a loyal race will obey God. Not only this, but it outlines perfection. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Ps. 19:7. This law was spoken to Israel from the summit of the burning mount. At the creation, that word had crowned all the phalanx of coming weeks with a Sabbath at its close. In the center of that perfect law, the word repeated: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." And through this world, and the world to come, each week is crowned with a diadem by the hand and word of her God. Through the Holy Spirit, the word outlines the future. As time has rolled its ever-varying tide of human experiences down through the centuries, the angel of history has stood upon his mountain, and shouted across the vale of the silent generations, to the angel of prophecy, saying, "Thy word has been clothed with almighty power, commanding the earth, its elements, and wheeling nations into line, for fame or infamy." He says: "I have duplicated, on my historic scroll, every word thou hast uttered in the sanctuary relating to the future. Thy word is that of a God in whose hand lies the destiny of the world and of our race." The thunders of that word will send the forces of life to the ashes of the dead, scattered over the great cemetery of the world,312thrilling them with the vital power of a new life. Soon will come the consummation of all things. The four empires can say, "We have filled our measure, our days are ended." The great harlot will say, "I mourn as a widow, and weep the loss of my children." The nations will say, "Peace and safety." And the word that has been heard through all the centuries will say, "It is finished. Human destiny is forever fixed." O my friend, my brother, where will that day find you?